Interested in studying dental hygiene?
Below you'll find a plethora of information on dental hygiene!
Take your time, read everything and see if it's right for you!
States with dental hygienist schools
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Alabama
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Alaska
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Arizona
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Arkansas
- Dental Hygienist Schools in California
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Colorado
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Connecticut
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Delaware
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Georgia
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Hawaii
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Idaho
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Illinois
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Indiana
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Iowa
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Kansas
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Kentucky
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Louisiana
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Maine
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Massachusetts
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Michigan
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Minnesota
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Mississippi
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Missouri
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Montana
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Nebraska
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Nevada
- Dental Hygienist Schools in New Hampshire
- Dental Hygienist Schools in New Jersey
- Dental Hygienist Schools in New Mexico
- Dental Hygienist Schools in New York
- Dental Hygienist Schools in North Carolina
- Dental Hygienist Schools in North Dakota
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Ohio
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Oklahoma
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Oregon
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Pennsylvania
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Rhode Island
- Dental Hygienist Schools in South Carolina
- Dental Hygienist Schools in South Dakota
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Tennessee
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Texas
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Utah
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Vermont
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Virginia
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Washington DC
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Washington State
- Dental Hygienist Schools in West Virginia
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Wisconsin
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Wyoming
How will your dental hygienist education stack up?
If you want to study dental hygiene at home, you should be aware of how your education will compare to the education available elsewhere in the US. Below is some information to help you get started. The US has 334 brick and mortar dental hygienist schools.
Top Schools
In 2010, the top schools in the country with dental hygienist programs were:
- University of Southern California - located in Los Angeles, California
- New York University - located in New York, New York
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Student Demographics
In 2010 in the US, 7,566 students graduated with degrees in dental hygiene. Of these students, 255 graduated from certificate programs in dental hygiene, 7,278 graduated from undergraduate programs in dental hygiene, and 33 graduated from graduate-level programs in dental hygiene.
Academics
Students can pursue education in dental hygiene at the following levels:
- Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene
- Bachelor's Degree in Dental Hygiene
- Master's Degree in Dental Hygiene
- Certificate in Dental Hygiene
During the course of their dental hygienist education, students can hope to gain the following skills and/or knowledge:
- Teamwork
- Active Listening
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Psychology
Cost
The average tuition at dental hygienist schools around the nation was $12,169 per year in 2010. The highest tuition was charged by the following dental hygienist schools:
- University of Southern California - located in Los Angeles, California, students paid $39,183
- New York University - located in New York, New York, students paid $38,765
- University of the Pacific - located in Stockton, California, students paid $32,230
The lowest tuition was charged by the following dental hygienist schools:
- Pearl River Community College - located in Poplarville, Mississippi, students paid $1,880
- University of Wyoming - located in Laramie, Wyoming, students paid $3,726
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette - located in Lafayette, Louisiana, students paid $4,016
How will your dental hygienist job compare?
A large number of dental hygiene majors work as dental hygienists after graduation. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 177,520 dental hygienists working in the US in 2010. The states with the largest populations of dental hygienists are:
- California - 18,050 Dental Hygienists
- Texas - 10,860 Dental Hygienists
- New York - 9,710 Dental Hygienists
Projected Growth
The projected growth for dental hygienists is expected to be the fastest in the following states:
- Utah - 54%
- North Carolina - 42%
- South Carolina - 37%
Salary
A dental hygienist in the US earns $65,242 per year on average. However, the salary for a dental hygienist can greatly vary based on factors such as location, professional associations and certifications or your boss. Salaries for dental hygienists range from less than $16,240 per year to more than $151,630 per year. Dental hygienists in the following states make the highest salaries on average:
- Alaska - $90,740 per year
- California - $90,220 per year
- Washington State - $87,810 per year
The following states have the lowest average salaries for dental hygienists:
- Alabama - $43,360 per year
- West Virginia - $48,990 per year
- Mississippi - $50,100 per year
So what kind of job can you get after studying
dental hygiene?
Below you'll find various popular careers! Compare professions and see which one you find interesting!
Rank | Profession | Employment Number | Avg Salary | Job Growth (Past 5 Yrs) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Dental Hygienists | 177,520 | $68,680 | 10.2% |